At least six people were killed and nine injured when a car involved in the California 200 off-road competition drove into a crowd of spectators Saturday night, the Los Angeles Times reported.

NBC News put the death toll at eight with 10 injured, citing initial reports.
The accident happened at about 7:40 p.m. PT in the Lucerne Valley, a desert area east of Victorville, about a 2-hour drive northeast of Los Angeles, NBC News said.

The San Bernardino County fire department and emergency personnel were attending the incident.

Fire dispatch supervisor Tim Franke told the Times that the accident was reported at 7:48 p.m. at Soggy Dry Lake Bed, a popular off-road spot.
Franke told the paper that four people were seriously injured and were taken by air ambulance to nearby trauma centers. Five others received minor injuries, he said. He added that it was not known whether the driver was killed or injured.

That's a bummer. Thoughts and prayers to those affected ... those who lost loved ones; I hope they find comfort. In a way, people affected include all of us, because the Nanny Staters are going to use this as an excuse to try to pass laws that stifle that much more freedom "for our own good." They just can't stand the idea of free spirits betting on Providence that they're not going to get killed at a an air race or offroading, etc., and most of the time, Providence delivers. It's the risk one takes for being alive and enjoying life; makes life that much more precious.

“Its amazing this doesnt happen more often with the crowd so close.”

That’s what I’ve always thought when viewing these things. Never mind the notorious 1955 Mercedes-Benz accident in which 83 were killed...it’s not necessary for the whole car to drive into the crowd. In a serious crack-up, heavy parts can easily become detached and airborne and really mangle people who have the misfortune of being in the way. In the 1955 MBZ accident, the loose flying hood from the car decapitated several people.

Look, it's like going down to Baja in the old days, with spectators trying to touch the race vehicles as they flew by at 70 mph...Many of the spectators were drinking etc., standing right along side the course as they flew by...

That's close to suicide in my opinion...

All the sponsors would have to do is force the spectators to stay back from the course fifty feet or so. Could be done with cones...Anyone violating this common sense rule the race is stopped immediately. Do this and the spectators will police themselves.

CHP identified the driver of the truck as Brett M. Sloppy. He was not injured but had to run from the scene when the crowd became unruly and began throwing rocks at him. It was not clear why he lost control of the truck, but CHP confirmed that alcohol was not a factor on Sloppy's part. No charges were filed against him, and he was not arrested.

Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.